Minutes of Special Called Meeting

PRESBYTERY OF SACRAMENTO
Special Called Meeting
June 18, 2005 -- Woodland Presbyterian Church

• Moderator Kathy Trott opened the meeting with prayer at 10:05 a.m. A quorum was present at the Woodland Presbyterian Church, Woodland, California. Joe Harrop, Committee on Ministry Chair, was introduced and presented the following Resolution for approval:

  Whereas, members of the Committee on Ministry serving as a Response Team attempted to mediate concerns raised by an elder regarding actions of the Session of First Presbyterian Church, Redding and to bring reconciliation;
  Whereas, at the end of the Mediation Process the elder would not waive his opinion in regard to the actions of the session and indicated that he would file a remedial Case against the session;
  Whereas, it is clear to the Response Team that the session is unable to fully manage some of the affairs of its church because of the conflict with the session;
  Whereas, some of the elders have indicated that they may resign because of the conflict;
  Whereas, the majority of the session and the Pastor are in favor of having an Administrative Commission;
  Therefore, Members of the Committee on Ministry (G-11.502) recommend that the Presbytery of Sacramento appoint an Administrative Commission (G-9.0503) for the First Presbyterian Church, Redding, CA that shall have the authority:

  1. To assume original jurisdiction of the session (G-11.0103s);
  2. To transfer any and all powers back to the session when the Commission deems appropriate;
  3. To investigate potential conflicts between the pastor, the session, and the congregation with recommendations for remediation as may be required;
  4. To call meetings of the session and/or congregational meetings pursuant to the provisions in the By Laws of First Presbyterian Church.
  5. To dissolve the pastoral relationship only by action of the presbytery in accordance with G-9.0505b (2);
  6. To request additional commission members be appointed (if the commission determines additional skills of members are needed) by the Moderator of Presbytery in consultation with the Chair of Committee on Ministry, General Presbyter for Ministry and the Stated Clerk in accordance with G-9.0504b (3), and to report such appointment to the next presbytery meeting;
  7. To report to the Presbytery of Sacramento no later than the September 24, 2005 stated meeting.
  >> Following the reading of the Resolution there was general discussion and questions, particularly in regard to item #5.

  A motion to amend/delete #5 from the Resolution was defeated by a Presbytery VOTE (11 yes, 21 no).
  #5 will remain in the Resolution.

  Presbytery VOTED to approve the Resolution as written and presented. (1 no vote)

• Nominees for the Administrative Commission were presented for election by COM Chair Joe Harrop:

  Clergy: Rev Allen McCallum, Honorably Retired; Rev. Lynne Vandercook, Member At Large;
  Rev. Dan Wells, Burney Presbyterian Church

  Elders: Gordon Kooyers, Trinity PC, Oroville; Phyllis Waller, First PC, Corning;
  Gerry Watson, Grace PC, Weed; Patricia Wesley, First PC. Colusa

  >> Some questions and discussion ensued regarding the makeup of the committee as presented. Questions were answered.

  • Additional nominations from the floor were requested. There were none.
    Presbytery VOTED to elect the Administrative Commission as presented.
• The business for this Special Meeting of Presbytery concluded with prayer given by Rev Ken Winter.
  Meeting adjourned by Moderator Trott at 10:25 a.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Elizabeth Groelle, Stated Clerk

Leola Davies, Recording Clerk